Wire splicer



G. T. STAFFORD Dec. 26, 1944.-

WIRE SPLICER 2 Sheets-Sheet. l

W F F A T 5 I 0 VP?- G Filed July 3, 1942 ATTORNEY.

5, 4 ts. T. STAFFORD 2,356,132 WIRE SPLICER Filed July 3, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J k w N 3 EIW Q Geo. T STAFFORD.

NVENTOR.

fummcem.

ATT'oRu BY.

Patented Dec. 26, 1944 WIRE SPLICER George T. Stafford, Houston, Tex. Application July 3, 1942, Serial No. 449,585 ooleims. (c1. 140-123) The invention relates toa wire splicer of the type wherein a metallic or other sleeve" of suitable material is deformed about the adjacent ends of the wire which is being spliced.

In connection with overhead wiresit is necessary that the wire splice is sufiiciently strong to support the weight of the wire and the-tension thereon without being deformed and to transmit a load or stress at least equal to that which can be sustained by the wire itself Various type wire splicers have been devised heretofore but most of them are cumbersomeand incapable of adjustment so as to compensate for alignment or wear. e

It is one of the objects of the present invention to-provide a wire splicer wherein the dies for deforming the connection are capable of movement to effect alignment thereof andto be adjustable so as to compensate for wear.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wire splicer wherein the supportingfstructure for one of the dies is capable of adjustment so as to compensate for wear on the dies and other parts of the splicer.

l Still another object of the invention is to providea wire splicer wherein a block and slot arrangement is provided so that the block may be adjusted to position the die in different relative positions.

Still another objector the invention is to provide a wire splicer wherein a tremendous pressure may be applied by disposing the parts to obtain a maximum mechanical advantage.

, Another and further object of the'invention will be readily apparent when the following description is considered in connection with the accompanyin drawings wherein:

pieces H by which it will be supported upona shown by the depression 5, and is forced into close contact with the wire portions 2 and 3. ;As

seen in Figure 6, the first depressions are made nearly in the center of the sleeve Land are alternated on opposite sides away fromthe center so that the material making upthe sleeve l is gradually deformed and elongated by the pressure applied to it by the dies 6 and l, which form the parts of the splicer.

The splicer is shown in open position in Figure 5 and constitutes a frame l0 having the foot surface. This frame has a standard or upright I2 thereon which is rigidly anchored to the frame. This standard is arranged to removably support the die 6 which is of arsuitable. form to engage the wire or retainer sleeve of the splice being made. This die 6 has a shank l4 thereon which is slidable in a groove in the standard I2. A lug l5 afiixed to the standard retains th die against upward movement. The upper end of the standard is constructed with a forked end I6 so Figure 1 is a sideelevation of the wire splicer with the dies in closed position.

Figure 2 is a top planview of the splicer of Figure 1.

Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views taken on the lines 3-3 and 4-4, respectively, of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the splicer in open position for adjusting or arranging the dies.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the wire which is being spliced. l

The splicing machine is intended for use for the purpose of splicing the wire asvin Figure 6 wherein the wire 2 is being spliced to thewire 3, and these two wire ends are installed in a. me-

as to provide the space I! between the forks. A groove l8 extends downward into the fork portions of the arm from the rear side thereof and isadapted to receive the cross'pin l9 carried by the lever linkage mechanism 20. This construction forms an anchor for the leverage mechanism as will be hereinafter described;

The frame [0 also carries the leverage linkage mechanism 20 which has the links 2| pivoted at 2| to the member 22. The. handle 20' is pivoted at 2|, to the other end of th links 2|" so that the three pivots 23, 2| and 2!" allow movement of the leverage from the position of Fig. 5 to that of Fig. 1. This member is in turn pivoted at 23 to the frame. The pivot 23 is spaced somewhat from the standard 12 as seen in Figure 5. i

The member 22 has a vertical slot ZB' therein which is arranged to receive the shank 24 of the die 1. This construction is best seen in Figures 1 and 3. n 1

It will be noted as seen in Figure 1, that the shank 24 is capable of considerable movement in slot 23' but is restrained to someextent by a tallic or other suitable sleeve 4 so that the ends block 25 which is 'mountedon a pinlzii. This pin 26 passes through the spaced legs 27 of the member 22. In order to allow for a loose or adjustable movement of, the die 1 relative to the member 22 the shank 24 is provided with an opening or slot 29 which receives the block 25. As best seen in Figure 1, the opening 30 in the block 25 which receives the pin 26,. is off center so that thedistance from the opening to the edges of the block in each of the four directions therefrom is different. The block being substantially square can be changed in position in the slot 29 so that in substance the die I and its shank be used to retain the shaft or pin 26 in place.

The eccentricity or off center position of the opening 30 relative to the block or edges of the block, permits four adjustments of the block and consequently four adjustments of the die I relative' to the member 22. These adjustments as indicated above compensate for variations in wear and alignment and in the size of the materials and equipment.

In actual operation the splicer'will be open, as seen in Figure 5, the wire ends 2 and 3 arranged in the sleeve 4 and the sleeve position in front of the die 6. The member 22 and the leveragemechanism is thenraised so as to position the cross pin H) in the slot It in the-upper end ofthe standard [2. The leverage member is then swung around in a counter-clockwise direction so; that the cross pin [9 isfirmly seated in the slot l8. This movement brings the dies 6 and I together as seen in Figure l, andfurther movement of'the leverage mechanism creates a tremendous pressure due tothe position of. the fulcrum wand 1 the great mechanical advantage thus obtained by this leverage. Every time the splicer is closed,

an indentation such as?) is made. It seems obvious that the alternate indentation canqbe quickly made so as to deform theretainer sleeve 4 and to firmly clamp it upon the wire ends.

- While the invention has been described in detail as applied to the crimping of the retainer sleeve in the splicing of wire, it seems obvious that by changing the dies the device could be used as a punch or ashear as desired.

Broadly, the invention contemplates a splicer wherein the dies will be loosely mounted to'compensate for alignment and wherein one of the dies is adjustable to compensate for wear and difference in sizeof the materials.

What is claimed is:

l. A wire splicer comprising a frame, a stand ard extending upwardly therefrom, a die removably held by said standard, an anchor portion on said'standard, amember pivoted on said frame to move to a position substantially parallel to said standard, a die on said member to-cooperate with said first die to crimp the wire being spliced; and a lever linkage mechanism having a means to releasably engage said anchor portion as a fulcrum to exert a high pressure on said dies.

2. A wire splicer comprising a frame,-a standard extending upwardly therefrom, a die removably held by said standard, an anchor portion on said standard, a member pivoted on said frame to move to a position substantially parallel to said standard, a die on said member to cooperate with said first die to crimp the wire being spliced, a lever linkage mechanism having a means toreleasably engage said anchor portion as a fulcrum .and dies together by a coupling of the linkage to effect the splicing, means to loosely support one of said dies for alignment, including an adjustment for the die to vary its position relative to the member supporting it so as to compensate for wear, said adjustment comprising a blockand slot arrangement with a pin to support saidblock and an opening in the block which is off center i so as to provide a plurality of different adjustmember.

ments by disposing said block in difierent angular positions in the slot. v i

4. Asupport construction for the dieof a wire splicer comprising a membena recesstherein, a die, a shank on the die to slide. in the recess, a slot in the shank, a block in said slot, anoff center opening in the block, a pin inthe member extending across the recess and through the block so that disposing of the block in different positions in the slot accomplishes .different adjustments of the block and die relative to the 5. A Wire splicer ofthe type for crimping a sleeve about two wire ends including a frame, a die carried thereby, a member pivoted on said frame, a die adjustably carried by said member so as to vary its position relative to said first die,

and a leverage linkagepivoted to the other end of said'member'and including a pairof spacedlinks, a handle pivoted thereto, and a cross pin on said handle, means on said frame, to receive said cross pin whereby movement of said handle actuates said linkage to obtain the mechanical advantage thereof in applying pressure to said dies-so as to deform the sleeve about the wire ends. f

6. A device of the character described for crimping, punching or shearing comprising a body, a die fixed thereon, a member pivoted to said body, a die thereon tobe moved to cooperate with said first die when said member is pivoted,-and a handlelinkage connected to thefree end of said member and including an eccentrically mounted portion to engage said bodyso as to provide'a mechanical advantage in forcing said dies together.

-GEORGE T. STAFFORD, 

